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Philip Travis, PhD 2014, first academic book published

reagans-war-on-terrorism-in-nicaraguaDr. Phil Travis announced the publication of his first academic book, which was officially released on November 16, 2016. The book title is “Reagan’s War on Terrorism in Nicaragua: The Outlaw State.” See Dr. Travis’  website at http://philiptravis.com for anyone interested in what this project is about (there is also a discount code should anyone wish to purchase the book).

Dr. Travis says: “This monograph was based on my PhD dissertation. I am, therefore, indebted to the guidance provided by some of the great scholars at WSU. Specifically, I wish to extend my gratitude to Dr. Noriko Kawamura, Dr. Matthew A. Sutton, and Thomas Preston (Political Science). The exceptional guidance provided by these mentors made this project, and future works, possible. I am grateful to have had such a positive experience at WSU. The training  received was second to none, and it provided me with the tools to succeed in the classroom and to begin the construction of my next book project.”

I am currently an Assistant Professor of History in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota.

Dr. Jennifer Thigpen researches America’s foreign mission movement

Jennifer ThigpenNew research by Jennifer Thigpen, associate professor of history and an expert on America’s foreign mission movement, demonstrates that, as American Protestant missionaries and their wives labored to bring Christianity to the region’s native inhabitants in the early nineteenth century, they also carefully built networks across a complex set of competing local, national and international interests.  “Going Out to the World: The American Foreign Mission Movement in the Global West” is the tentative title of her new book-length project.  Read more about Dr. Thigpen’s research.

Global Case Competition team travels to Switzerland

students-in-genevaThe team of five students advised by Ken Faunce, won the WSU Global Case Competition. The theme in conjunction with the United Nations was “Arbitrary Detention in the U.S.”  The team looked at the debtor’s prison concept. The team highlighted the issue and then came up with solutions to the problem. Eighty students competed. By winning, the team traveled to Geneva, Switzerland for a week in November to present their findings to the U.N. Arbitrary Detention Working Group. Also, the team leader is History major, Maddy Hunter.

Pictured here is the team in Geneva.  See more about this event by reading the brochure.

 

Dr. Jesse Spohnholz’ article published in “Past and Present”

Jesse SpohnholzJesse Spohnholz’s article “Archiving and Narration in Post-Reformation Germany and the Netherlanders” was published in the Past and Present, 2016 Supplement. The article offers an example for how the ‘literary turn’ and the more recent ‘archival turn’ speak to Reformation history.  For the next three months, the article is available for free download.   “Past & Present” is one of the most prestigious history journals in the English-speaking world.  For the full text, see more.

Graduate students who have taken History 580: Historiography and undergraduates taking History 445: The Reformation next spring should check it out!

Free lecture: Volcanoes, Climate and People… Dr. John Wolff Nov. 9, 7 p.m.

mount-st_-helensProfessor and Associate Director, John Wolff, of the School of the Environment, is giving a Roots of Contemporary Issues-sponsored lecture on Wednesday, Nov 9, 7pm, CUB 220 (Senior Ballroom). The lecture is titled “Volcanoes, Climate, and People: Natural vs. Anthropogenic Causes of Global Change.”   This lecture is also in partnership with the WSU Cougar Historical Society.

For more detailed information on the subject, see more here.

Dr. Lawrence Hatter to give talk at Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy Nov. 3.

Lawrence HatterDr. Lawrence Hatter will give a talk November 3 on his forthcoming book, “Citizens of Convenience: The Imperial Origins of American Nationhood on the U. S. – Canadian Border” at the University of Missouri’s Kinder Institute for Constitutional Democracy.  See the link to the UM Colloquium Series.

He received his M.A. in History from University of Missouri and his Ph.D. from University of Virginia, and he currently serves as Assistant Professor of History at Washington State University. He has published articles in Journal of the Early Republic, Diplomatic History, and American Review of Canadian Studies, among other places, and his current book project, Citizens of Convenience: Nationhood, Empire, and the Northern Border of the American Republic, 1783-1820 is under contract with University of Virginia Press, to be published as part of the Early American Histories series.

Dr. Mandy Link, (PhD 2015) to give lecture Nov 3, 6:00 pm

townsleyDr. Mandy Link, who earned her PhD in  World History in 2015 at WSU, is a guest lecturer for the Honors 380 class November 3, at 6 p.m. in the Elmina White Honors Hall Lounge on the WSU campus.  The title of the lecture is “A Foolish Idea? Building the Irish National War Memorial and the Construction of National Identity.”

Dr. Link is a visiting assistant professor at Eastern Oregon University.  See the flyer here.

 

 

Dr. Matthew Sutton to give talk October 17 at 5 p.m. in Todd 430

Matthew SuttonDr. Matthew Sutton will give a talk titled “Anticipating the Antichrist: The Rise of American Fundamentalism in a Global Age.”

Starting in the early 20th century, a colorful and charismatic group of radical Protestants, anticipating the end of the world, paradoxically transformed it. Perceiving the United States as besieged by Satanic forces—communism and secularism, family breakdown and government encroachment—Billy Sunday, Billy Graham, and many others took to the pulpit and airwaves to explain how Biblical end-times prophecy made sense of a world ravaged by global wars, genocide, and the threat of nuclear extinction. Rather than withdraw from their communities to wait for Armageddon, they used what little time was left to warn of the coming Antichrist, save souls, and prepare the United States for God’s final judgment. In his talk, Prof. Sutton will show the rise of the American Christian Right from the beginning of the 20th century until today.  See the poster for sponsorship information.

 

Roots of Contemporary Issues Conference Oct. 29 in CUE 518

The Roots program and History Graduate Student Association are pleased to circulate the program for this Fall’s Undergraduate Research Conference. The conference will take place on Saturday, October 29 in CUE 518. Fourteen former Roots students will present the results of their semester-long research projects and compete for cash awards. Graduate students and faculty have graciously volunteered their time and energy to serve as judges, mentors, and panel chairs.

The conference is being held in conjunction with one of the University’s Academic Showcase events.

You are cordially invited to attend, and please circulate the attached program to your students and encourage them to attend as well.

Please direct any questions to Dr. Clif Stratton.